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Greenville, S.C. – Samford used a pair of big innings in both games to cruise to an 8-1, 14-1 doubleheader sweep of Furman in Southern Conference softball action Saturday afternoon at Pepsi Stadium.
Game 1: Samford 8, Furman 1
The Bulldogs opened the three-game series with an 8-1 triumph in game one of Saturday’s doubleheaders.
Game 1
Final | Samford 8, Furman 1— Furman Softball (@FurmanSB) April 18, 2026
After Furman took an early lead via a Samford error in the bottom of the second inning, the Bulldogs answered with three runs in the top of the third. Olivia Shaw, who went 3-for-3 in game one, singled up the middle to plate Joi Hubbard with the opening run and Sydnie Ferrant followed four batters later with a two-run double down the left field line to give the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead.
M4 | Samford 3, Furman 1
— Furman Softball (@FurmanSB) April 18, 2026
Samford struck for five more runs in the top half of the sixth inning to put the game out of reach. Hubbard’s triple into the gap extended the margin to 5-1 before Katie Campbell drove in a run on a groundout. Brandy Phillips and Ella Nelson capped the five-run outburst with RBI doubles to push the Bulldog advantage to 8-1.
Starter Makinley Turner limited the Paladins to just an unearned run on five hits over seven innings to earn the victory and improve to 7-8 in the circle. Turner issued just one walk while fanning five batters.
In addition to Shaw’s 3-for-3 performance at the plate, Brooke Wildes went 2-for-2 with a walk and Hubbard and Ferrant each totaled two RBI.
Game 1:
M2 | Furman 0, Samford 0— Furman Softball (@FurmanSB) April 18, 2026
Furman starter Kristyn Embler (7-11) was saddled with the loss after allowing six runs, four earned, on eight hits in 5.1 innings or work. She allowed three walks and recorded two strikeouts. Leadoff hitter Kate Stoltzfus collected two hits to pace the Paladin offense.
Let's Play ✌️!
🆚 Samford
⏰ 1:00/3:00 PM
🏟 Pepsi Stadium
💻 https://t.co/Va5dXSUlJY
📊 https://t.co/Va5dXSUlJY pic.twitter.com/aE9liuzFfy— Furman Softball (@FurmanSB) April 18, 2026
Game 2: Samford 14, Furman 1 (5 inn.)
Samford posted five runs in the top of the second inning and six in the top of the fourth to roll to a 14-1 decision in the second game of the series.
Game 2
Final | Samford 14, Furman 1— Furman Softball (@FurmanSB) April 18, 2026
After Furman grabbed a first-inning lead on AB Cipalla’s RBI double to score Stoltzfus, Paladin starter Gwen Hill walked the bases loaded in the second inning. Katie Hart and Hubbard drove in runs with ground balls on the infield before Shaw ripped a 2-run double. Campbell capped the rally with a single down the line to plate Shaw and increase the Samford lead to 5-1.
AB Cipalla with the RBI Double! pic.twitter.com/E9hyxTuX83
— Furman Softball (@FurmanSB) April 18, 2026
The Bulldogs (21-26, 10-4 SoCon) scratched across an unearned run on a Furman error in the third inning prior to erupting for six runs the following frame. Samford sent 12 batters to the plate in the top of the fourth, registered eight hits, and took advantage of a Furman miscue in the six-run frame. Phillips and Nelson each notched two hits in the inning, including a two-run single down the left field line by Phillips in her second at bat of the fourth.
Game 2
E3 | Samford 6, Furman 1— Furman Softball (@FurmanSB) April 18, 2026
Phillips, Reese Hickey, and Olivia Trout combined to hold Furman to one run on one hit over five innings., Phillips, who surrendered the lone run in the bottom of the first, tossed three innings to earn the win and improve to 5-7 on the season.
Campbell went 3-for-5 with three RBI to key Samford’s 14-hit attack while Phillips totaled two hits, Nelson reached base four times, and Addison Smith crossed the plate three times.
Game 2
E1 | Furman 1, Samford 0— Furman Softball (@FurmanSB) April 18, 2026
Hill (0-3) took the loss for the Paladins (11-34, 3-11 SoCon) allowing seven runs on six hits and five walks in three innings of work. Furman’s trio of pitchers issued eight walks over five innings in the circle.
Sunday’s series finale will serve as Furman’s annual “Strike Out Cancer” game and is set for a 1:05 p.m. first pitch. Links to the live stream and live statistics are available on the Furman softball schedule page at FurmanPaladins.com.
Credit: Jordan Caskey furmanpaladins.com
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